Sheboygan South alum Martens goes from bench to player of the year at UW-Sheboygan

Sheboygan South alum and UW-Sheboygan basketball player Dylan Martens went from career backup to a staring role in his final season of basketball.(Photo: Courtesy of Dylan Martens)

SHEBOYGAN - Having confidence is part of being an athlete.

There’s also something to be said for being realistic.

Dylan Martens, a 2017 Sheboygan South alum, says he was being the latter heading into his sophomore season at UW-Sheboygan.

“Always been the behind-the-scenes guy, even in high school at South,” Martens said.

Wombats coach Bill Greenwood, though, was more optimistic after seeing him develop behind a pair of strong forwards last season.

“He wasn’t the big man on campus last year, but their leadership pushed him to improve,” Greenwood said. “Told him he’s going to be a captain and to be ready. He did everything we asked, which is a tribute to his character.”

In his final season of basketball, Martens led UW-Sheboygan to the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference championship game while being named the WCC East Player of the Year.

It was all a little unexpected.

“Every week it was, ‘Holy cow, this is happening.’ Week in, week out I was amazing myself,” Martens said.

Martens broke or tied seven school records, including career rebounds and single-season and single-game scoring.

Being named player of the year in the division was the ultimate thrill.

“Kind of sat there and smiled because I didn’t believe I’d even be the best big man in the conference. Was screaming in my head but kept cool on the outside,” Martens said.

There’s no way Martens goes from lifelong backup to averaging 27 points and 14 rebounds without dedication, Greenwood said

“Made me incredibly proud,” Greenwood said. “We saw that in him at Sheboygan South, the potential. He wanted to be a captain, to be a leader.”

The South graduate acknowledged he also needed to find a way on the floor.

“Fouling was a big issue,” Martens said. “I’d go in for maybe three minutes and pick up four fouls and get yanked.”

And when he did go to the free-throw line himself, it wasn’t always the prettiest picture before this season, when he converted 80 percent of his attempts.

“They’d send him to the free-throw line and we’d pray he’d split them, but this season he made (nearly) all of them,” Greenwood said.

Spending so much time on the bench during his career gave Martens perspective.